Summary:
- Aston Villa defeated Bayern Munich, score 1-0 in the second round of the Champions League group.
- Jhon Duran scored the only goal of the game in the second half.
- Aston Villa Women Football Club won their first game in the 2024/25 League Cup campaign against Crystal Palace.
Aston Villa secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the second round of the Champions League group stage, in a game well-officiated by referee Radu Petrescu and his team at Villa Park.
This was the second encounter between these teams, the first being a memorable one that ended with the same scoreline in the 1982 European Cup final.
Heated Action
Bayern Munich dominated the opening 15 minutes, putting relentless pressure on Villa.
However, despite controlling the tempo, the Bavarians failed to produce any real threat to Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Villa’s first opportunity came after the first quarter, and, surprisingly, it was Bayern’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer who found himself under pressure.
Lucas Digne sent in a cross from the left, but Ollie Watkins‘ header narrowly missed the target, sending a warning shot to the German defense.
For the next few minutes, Villa struggled to break through Bayern’s strong midfield presence.
However, the home crowd erupted just seven minutes later (22’) when Pau Torres found the back of the net.
Unfortunately, his effort was ruled offside, leaving the scoreline unchanged. Just moments later, Boubacar Kamara fired a powerful shot towards Neuer, but the German keeper made a routine save.
As the first half progressed, Aston Villa grew in confidence, taking advantage of Bayern’s lapses in concentration.
Bayern’s first real chance came in the 39th minute when Michael Olise unleashed a powerful shot that forced Martinez into an excellent save.
Olise continued to be a threat, providing a clever pass to Konrad Laimer, but Martinez was quick off his line to block the Austrian’s effort.
The second half saw Bayern Munich continue to dictate the pace, while Villa waited for opportunities to strike on the counterattack.
Despite Bayern’s dominance in possession, clear chances remained scarce for both teams.
Manuel Neuer, known for his aggressive positioning and excellent footwork, made a crucial mistake that proved costly for Bayern.
Jhon Duran Took Advantage of Neuer’s Call to Leave the Goal
In the 79th minute, when the score was 0-0, Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran capitalized on Neuer’s decision to leave his goal.
Released by Pau Torres, Duran drove forward from his own half and, seeing Neuer well outside the box, struck a perfectly placed shot from 30 meters to give Villa the lead.
Duran’s tally now stands at six goals in nine matches this season. Much like Withe’s goal in ’82, Villa fans won’t soon forget this clinical strike.
The six-time winners known as a European superpower had a late chance to equalize through Jamal Musiala in stoppage time, but Martinez was once again up to the task, preserving Villa’s narrow lead.
Aston Villa’s Women Score 2-0 Win Against Crystal Palace
Aston Villa had another reason to celebrate on Wednesday evening when the women’s team began their 2024/25 League Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Women’s Super League rivals Crystal Palace at the Bescot Stadium.
Late goals from Kirsty Hanson and Katie Robinson secured the victory, sending Villa to the top of Group E.
Aston Villa’s women’s team was founded in 1973, and are making strides in the Women’s Super League with strong performances.
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